Page 16- SUSQUEHANNA TIME:S
HE
Who would have come to the ball
back in 1776?
Elspeth Abel is all set for the Bicentennial Ball.
by Mrs. Macaroni Jack
Who has not driven along
the River Road, gazed at the
York County hills, and
wondered if they do not look
very much as they did in
1776, give or take a few
power lines that place us
firmly in the twentieth
century?
Likewise, it is not difficult
to imagine that there might
have been a ball - perhaps
honoring the Associators
(those who pledged them-
selves to defend our country
at the inception of the
Revolutionary War).
Those in attendance
would have come from
Andcrson’s Ferry (Marietta)
Maytown, Donegal, Middle-
town, Paxtang, Hanover
(Lebanon), Londonderry,
Drumore, and there might
have been some fervent
patriots from Lancaster.
A probable location for
the ball would have been the
home of Alexander Lowry,
Donegal’s most prominent
citizen.
A less likely place might
have been one of the
“ordinaries’’, as the local
taverns were called.
Music for the ball would
probably have been pro-
vided by local citizens who
were fortunate enough to
own a fiddle, a transverse
(German flute), a fife or pipe
and even a dulcimer. The
Jew’s harp and the bagpipes
were favorite instruments
among county folk. If Mrs.
Lowry possessed a harpsi-
chord, and the foresinger
(choirmaster) from one of
the local German Churches
was sufficiently accomp-
lished to play for dancing, it
would indeed have been a
grand ball.
It is more likely, however,
that our hardy Scotch-Irish
and German forebears
would have enjoyed jigs,
hornpipes, allemandes, etc.,
the kind we now call country
or square dances.
Guests arriving at the ball
would no doubt have been
attired in their prized
‘““cloathing’’. Gentlemen in
velour coats, satin breeches,
silk hose and brocade vests
would certainly have been in
the minority.
Alexander Lowry would
no doubt have been rather
elegantly dressed. Matthew
Smith might have presented
more of a military bearing.
There might have been
some of the new green and
brown continental uniforms,
but the most likely military
garb would have been the
linen fringed hunting jacket
with linen knee breeches, or
the more common long
narrow pants called over-
alls.
A ‘‘damn my eyes cock’
(the Englishman’s designa-
tion for style of tricorn hat
worn by colonials), and his
rifle or musket to insure his
family’s safe journey to and
from the ball would have
completed many outfits.
The guest would have
welcomed a tankard of
punch, perhaps ‘‘Fish-
house’’ (made with brandy
and rum), or a wine punch.
Those of less discerning
taste might have a drink
made of rum, water, and
honey. Liquor was consum-
ed in preference to water,
partly because it was less
likely to give one dysentary.
Mrs. Lowry, the hostess
for the ball, would have a
beautiful gown of elaborate
design made from silk
alamode (light, glossy silk),
taffeta, or satin. An
abundance of ribbon and
lace decorating a lady’s
dress denoted the fact that
her husband or family was
well-to-do.
The yards of material and
the padding worn under the
more elaborate ball gowns
were calculated to accent-
uate the female figure’s
most desirable assets: a
small waist, the bosom, and
a neat foot.
Sometime during a break
in the dancing a huzza must
have rung across the ball-
room. Those three ‘‘hip-
hip-huzza’s’’ would inevi-
tably break out wherever
there was a gathering of
such revolutionary spirits. _
Some of us who live in this
area feel that the ‘‘cradle of
liberty’’ lies as much in this
small corner of God’s green
earth as it does anywhere.
These green river hills could
tell stories that would hold
their own with the Green
Mountain Boys.
As I look out my window
and imagine I see an Indian,
a fox, or Matthew Smith on
his horse, I remind myself
that he, too, was once a very
live person who roamed and
loved this uniquely beautiful
part of the earth which we
are privileged to inhabit.
Perhaps it is something in
the air off the river, but a
special spirit of freedom and
independence seems to per-
vade this whole region.
Over the past two hun-
dred years this area has
been politically subdivided.
This coming Saturday, how-
ever, some of these subdi-
visions are uniting in having
a ball.
I know that Matthew
Smith will be there, as will
Alexander Lowry and his
lady. I am hoping to see the
Right Rev. Elder again.
Macaroni Jack might come
and bring his little (green
buddy along.
1 know I will be there with
my appreciation and respect
for those who went before
me, my rationalizations of
the present and my hopes
for the future.
I do hope you can join me,
I am sure you will have an
enjoyable and different
experience.
April 21, 1976
Five day-old foal owned by Peter Krol of Rowenna seemed to enjoy unusually warm
weather last week. Mother Trixie was happy to see the grass start growing again.
How to enjoy your dandelions
Throughout the Donegal
area recently an increasing
number of people have been
noticed rambling about their
lawns with sprayers, pry-
bars, and prods, attacking
mans old friend the dande-
lion. Efforts are being made
to destroy these tenacious
little fellows who for many
years were a most important
ally of man in his struggle
with death.
Have you not heard it said
that a ‘Dutchman must eat
dandelion to be healthy
through the year.” ‘Dutch-
man’’ and other European
immigrants brought the
dandelion to America. For
many centuries it had
served as an important
herbal medicine. High in
vitamins A and C and also
Iron, in roots which are
available throughout the
year and green leaves that
sprout in the very early
spring, the plant was a
natural assistant to the
- ancient herb doctors as they
fought off the ravages of
winter.
More than just a primitive
medication, our little immi-
grant can serve as an
ingredient in salads, pot-
herbs, cooked vegetables,
coffee substitute, wine,
prognosticator of future
family size and child’s toy.
As an obstinate competi-
tor with grass, dandelion
also serves as an outlet for
pent-up hostility as subur-
anities attack it each spring
with a vigor matched only by
new converts engaged in
holy war with the infidel.
Having eaten dandelion
all of my life, 1 assumed
everyone else enjoyed it
also. However, in recent
exposure to ‘‘back-to-nature
new to the out-of-doors type
friends, I found experiment
ers proclaiming dandelion to
be bitter, stringy, and
tough. Such is not the case if
by J. L. Biesecker
dandelion is selected and
prepared with reasonable
care. Dandelion growing
under a wagon on the north
side of a barn, picked before
the flowers show is the
secret of selection that one
old-timers uses. Actually, if
one wants to use dandelions
as a potherb or salad
ingredient, the greens
should be picked before the
flowers sprout, selecting
that growing in areas out of
direct sunlight.
Tender young leaves
placed in boiling water for
five minutes, seasoned with
butter and salt makes an
enjoyable side dish. A pinch
of soda can be used in the
boiling water is desired.
Crowns of the root,
usually starting several
inches below the surface,
can also be eaten as a
cooked vegetable or raw in a
salad. They should be soak-
ed in salt water for a short
time if used raw. The roots,
when peeled, serve as a
cooked vegetable if one
takes the time to change the
water at least one time in
the preparation. Peeled
dandelion roots roasted until
crisp and brown, then
ground served many frontier
families as a healthful coffee -
substitute as our country
pushed westward.
For many centuries, in
England, the dapper little
blossoms have captured the
warmth of the summer sun,
holding it until needed on
long damp winter nights.
Several wine recipes are
used in this area, but since
this writer always fails as a
wine maker, the reader will
be relieved to know that my
recipe will remain a secret.
However, the directions
for fortelling family size are
much more reliable. Take a
fully mature white dande-
lion seed head. Blow on it
one time as if blowing out a
candle. The number of
seeds remaining on the head
indicate the number of
children the person blowing
will parent. My last visit to
the oracle of the dandelion
indicates that my children
will number 387.
Maundy Thursday has
recently passed, but it is still
not too late for Dutchmen of
Donegal to partake of their
fellow immigrant in some
form that will assure their
continued health and lend
the strenght needed to fulfill
the prophecy of the
dandelion.
Lions to plant roses
The Marietta Lions’ Club
plans to plant a lot of red
roses in honor of the
bicentennial.
Roses will be planted in
the Marietta square and
around the community sign
on Route 441.
The Donegal Mutual In-
surance Company plans to
plant 175 rose bushes along
its stake fence on . the
highway.
Albert Huck has been
named chairman of the rose
planting committee for the
Lions. Lester Hostetter,
champion rose grower of
Mount Joy, will act as
consultant.
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